For once, Cap seemed speechless. The Spartan took some rifle ammo from the crate, and turned to Cap, dwarfing him.
"Um, what can I call you?" Cap asked.
"Lieutenant," He said bluntly. At that point, Jack noticed B-312 engraved on his shoulder pad. "How can I help?"
"Well, we have this area pretty much locked down," Cap answered, gathering himself, "But over the gap, the Covies will pin down any evac bird that tries to airlift those civilians." He acknowledged the dug in Covenant on the far side of the blast zone. A Brute Captain wielding a hammer roared challenges from a high point at them.
"I think we've found a use for those jetpacks, sir," Jordan piped up.
"I believe we have. Spartan, you, me, Robins, and Smith will take out those Covies, Mitchell, stay here with the rest of the squad and continue to shoot down Banshees. Robins, Smith, Bullfrog Protocol." ODSTs were trained in the "Bullfrog Protocol", basically, jetpack training. ODSTs using jetpacks were subsequently called Bullfrogs. Jack took one jetpack and magnetized it to his back. He linked it to his helmet and tested it. The jets deployed fired, lifting him several feet off the ground. Cap and Jordan had also done it. The Spartan didn't hesitate at all, hooking up the jetpack and linking it to his own helmet.
"Welcome to the Bullfrogs," Jordan said to the Spartan, "Try to keep up." The Spartan nodded, and sped off. The ODSTs took off behind him. When they were halfway across the gap, the super soldier had already engaged the Covenant on the service landing. Jack landed on the lower level, passing three slain Grunts. A stairwell led up to the second floor. He could hear the sounds of battle (slaughter seemed to be a more acceptable word) above him. Up top, Jack finally caught up to the Spartan, who was engaging the Captain. The Brute swung his gravity hammer, sending a shockwave through the air that Jack felt, several meters away. As the Brute heaved the hammer back up, B-312 slammed his rifle butt into the alien's face, causing it to recoil. Jack opened fire, five shots finding their way into the Brute's torso. He doubled over, giving the Spartan the chance to deliver the killing blow to the back of the head with his Magnum. The lieutenant nodded as he continued on. Cap and Jordan had also caught up, but there was only a short lull as Brute reinforcements charged towards them. The Spartan chucked a grenade, fragmenting (literally) the charge and sending chunks of Brute flying.
"Come on, move up!" Cap exclaimed, "What's your objective, Spartan?"
"The service pad on Traxus Tower. Fuel Rod Shades are picking off evac birds. Wouldn't mind taking down that Corvette, either." Cap looked up at the ship orbiting above the city, raining plasma torpedoes on the skyscrapers.
"You say it like it's an easy thing," Jordan said.
"I've taken down two so far, Marine. It's not as hard as it looks," He snapped back.
"Says the seven foot tall walking tank."
"Can it, Marine!" Cap yelled, "Now, we're going to the service pad!" The trio met relatively light Covenant resistance up until they reached the concourse, where they linked up with a squad of Army troopers.
"You headed for the service pad?" The sergeant in charge asked. The Spartan nodded, and once again threw himself at the Covenant defending the pad. Jack looked up, and saw huge fuel rods flying towards a Pelican from an overhang.
"There's the pad!" He said, pointing it out. The Spartan saw it too, killed the Jackal he had engaged, and rocketed upwards towards the pad.
"Uh, meet us up there, I guess," Jordan said to the ground-bound army troopers. The ODSTs joined the super soldier up top, fighting even more Brutes. Cap pointed towards two landings above the main atrium, and prompted the two to go up. Jack took up a position above the fighting, and picked a Brute. Cap ran to join the Spartan, and planted a hard kick in a Brute's side. Merely annoyed, the Brute backhanded Cap and sent him flying. However, the Spartan planted his knife into the Brute's stomach, bringing him down and crushing his neck with his boot. The Spartan continued without pausing to the pad, while Jordan and Jack attended to Cap. Distant explosions signaled the destruction of the Shades. Cap's visor had been shattered, and his face punctured by the glass. He had also received head trauma, and was unconscious.
"Evac Pelican, we're ready for dust-off," The Spartan said to his radio. Within seconds, a dropship arrived. Civilians loaded it, and they barely made enough room to fit Cap on. He finally came to, and muttered, "Robins, take over for me until I come back." Jack nodded and turned to the Spartan. Two Falcons had arrived to support the evac, and he had taken up the left gunner's position on one. Jack saluted him, and said, "Thanks for the assist, Spartan. We'll stay to secure this area. Go do what you have to do." The Spartan simply nodded as the Falcon flew away.
"You think he'll actually take down that Corvette?" Jordan asked. Jack shrugged and said, "Guess we'll find out." Half an hour later, Jack's attention was drawn to lights in the sky. Missiles were streaking towards the Corvette, impacting and exploding on the surface of it. It quickly drew back, listing severely to the left. The two barely had time to celebrate when they received word from Command.
"Captain Willis has received a severe concussion. We think he'll return to active duty in two weeks. In the meantime, a Pelican carrying your squad will pick you up and take you to HQ." In no time at all, a Pelican arrived, the six others in their squad waiting in the back.